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LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) -- A Long Island man convicted of sexually abusing a 9-year-old relative was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday, authorities said.
The 33-year-old defendant, who is not identified in court records, was found guilty of attempted rape and sexual abuse at trial last month, prosecutors said. The incident occurred in December of 2021 when the victim was 9.
Authorities said the defendant violated the child after her parents left her sleeping in the family home to take the family dog to the veterinarian. The defendant rented a room in the victim's house, prosecutors said.
The defendant took the girl to his bedroom and scratched her back before sexually abusing her, officials said. The child told the parents what happened and the man's DNA was found on her undergarments when she was examined at the hospital, authorities said.
“Today’s sentence means justice for a family whose trust was violated by the defendant,” Suffolk
County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. “Suffolk County is safer with this sexual predator removed from our community.”
The defendant was also sentenced to 15 years of post-release supervision.
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